So one of the best parts about being home all the time is seeing my kids grow up some of the not so fun ones are when they have learned how to torture each other. Emily recently has decided to torture her younger siblings in different ways moving away from Max whenever he is close, stating she knew that before him, or just not talking to him, it does bring lots of memories for me, but here are two more recent moments of sibling torture.

Emily got a fairy outfit from a birthday...look who she dressed as a fairy

Emily beat him to the bathroom so she got to get the toothpaste first (this is a  daily fight)

Overall my kids are awesome and fun, but I think it is important we remember the ridiculousness of something like fighting over toothpaste, or who pick out the forks. Another thing my two older ones fight about is Max hates being alone so Emily hurries through her breakfast some mornings and I can hear max screaming from my room. I  DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!

Snow

So a few weeks ago, we had our first snow. The crazy part and disappointing to Jason was that it was on a Saturday. Max, Emily and I ran outside and played in the snow that morning before Jason headed of to work. It was a lot of fun. Then later after Calvin's morning nap we went sledding down one of our roads. It was a lot of fun. One of our neighbors even joined us. Then we headed home and ate lunch. Later Jason took the older two outside to play, it was too cold for Calvin to go back out. He was good the first time until he decided he didn't want to wear gloves so lets just say his hands got a little cold. Then it took forever once we got home to calm him down. He is one crazy boy. After that we spent time together as family hanging out, church was cancelled that Sunday as well as school that Monday and Tuesday. It was nice to have Emily home so Max could have a playmate he really does miss his sister. Calvin like usual was terror and has taken to moving furniture around the house so he can get where he wants.

Calvin watching Emily and Max making snow angels

Yay for snow

Max and Emily playing in the snow

snow angels

Fish Tank

Jason asked for a fish tank for Christmas thanks to Grandma, my mom and Aunt Jenny we got it done. We have a 10 gallon tank we bought three fish originally, but we have already had one die. However the others are doing great. We still have three fish because we bought another Platy because the other two were chasing each other around the tank it was weird. Here is Clifford and Sunny our new fish is named Rainbow. All three different types of Platy the one that died was a fish that ate Algae.

Christmas Traditions

We had some new Christmas traditions this year Aunt Lori sent us an advent Calendar and we were able to read segments of the story of Christs birth all month long, we were able to record our voices reading Frosty thanks to my mom, I already love it. We decorated Sugar cookies with Holly cause we miss her so much.

They ask if they can do it again

very focused

it wasn't very pretty

Hanging out at the nativity

We love Holly

They turned out okay

Watching the garbage man

We had some old tradition looking at Christmas lights, Christmas Jammies, going to Aunt Janet's on Christmas Eve, Skyping with family (or google hangouts), Christmas Breakfast with Jason's parents, eating Christmas omelettes in the evening. Apple pie and playing games. The kids had a lot of fun opening presents, and love everything they have, I loved all my gifts as well I have been adjusting to all of our new things in our house. Thanks to everyone who helped make our Christmas amazing. My favorite memory of the evening is Michelle laughing as I took a giant bite of his apple pie because he was annoying (family is awesome). Calvin's favorite thing was the orange in the stocking, Emily loved everything I have never seen her so happy, Aunt Jenny the tents are now their homes they visit each other with the tunnel. She draws and colors with her new art kit. Max loves his fish game until he loses, he loves his new super heroes and loves all of his books. Grammy got him legoes that he is loving too he plays with them a lot hopefully Calvin doesn't eat them.

They look adorable

Love the Christmas tent

showing off her Barbie Clothes

Catching fish

Already to be destroyed

Christmas Eve gingerbread houses

Decorated for Christmas

We decorated our Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving and then I made Calvin's stocking. The best part was Calvin did not care about the tree, it smacked him the face a few times and then he stayed away, up until 3 days before Christmas then he was ripping off ornaments left and right. It was all fun and games though.

set up the tree

decorating the tree

our stockings

Christmas Party

Our ward Christmas party was at night, it was Christmas around the world. We had Tacos and saw Santa then we walked around to the various booths and learned about how other countries celebrated Christmas. They built gingerbread houses, made Chinese lanterns and tried some new food. Overall it was fun, but late so we left before it go too crazy.

Who is that guy?

Making a gingerbread house with Celeste

We also were able to go to the Christmas parade down the road we  walked down with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Jim, and his grand kids. it was a lot of fun we saw some cool floats my favorite was the tiny house. We ran into one of Emily's friends from school too.

the gang minus Calvin and Uncle Jim

Jason felt I didn't put a heavy enough coat on him

Hugging the firehouse dog

We also went and had donuts with Santa at Emily's school it was all fun in games until Mom forgot the tickets (they still gave us donuts the very kind folks they were) Then Max had a melt down, Started off nice but I was glad to be home.

Hanging with Santa

They were huge donuts

Aunt Sandra is in town

Aunt Sandra came to town and my kids were so grateful to see her it probably doesn't help that she spoils them rotten. Max truly has a special place in his heart for her he is always concerned for her well being and asks questions about her all the time. He still talks of Tom when we went and visited him before he passed away. We attended Tom's thing in Alexandria I enjoyed myself because one of the guys who spoke truly spoke of the Tom I remembered. I really do miss his long talks on the phone he always knew how to make you feel good. Aunt Sandra came over and hung out with my kids spoiled them with gifts  and took them to their first movie. Max did not get off Aunt Sandra's lap for the whole movie and pretty much any time they were together.

This was at Savannah's birthday he was attached to her the whole time

She came to spread some Christmas Cheer and they didn't want her to leave